AFL’s Adelaide Crows buy Legacy eSports team

19 May 2017 08:30

The Australian Football League (AFL) side Adelaide Crows have bought professional eSports team Legacy, it was announced this week. The Crows have paid a reported six-figure sum for Sydney-based Legacy - an historic, first-ever deal of its kind in Australia.

Who are Legacy?

Legacy have professional teams in Counter-Strike; Global Offence, Rocket League and SMITE, but they are best known for their exploits in League of Legends (LoL). They are one of eight top-tier LoL teams in the Oceania Pro League (OPL), which was launched in 2015.

The Legacy LoL team lost in both the 2015 and 2016 OPL grand finals, and will be looking to make amends in the 2017 OPL under the leadership of 25-year-old team captain Tim ‘Carbon’ Wendel, who has been with the team since 2014. The tournament begins on 10 June, and the winner will then compete for a place in the LoL world championships. The prize pool for last year’s OPL was $6.7m (AU$9m), and that looks set to increase this year.

Adelaide Crows

Formed in 1990, the Adelaide Crows compete in the AFL and play their home matches at the Adelaide Oval. Although the Crows - captained by Taylor Walker and coached by Don Pyke - are the first Australian sports team to buy an eSports team, the likes of Manchester City, West Ham United and Ajax Football Clubs have already done so.

They believe the new partnership will develop the club’s commercial platform and sponsorship revenue further. The team reportedly decided to get involved with LoL ahead of other eSports games as it already has one of the most developed eSports leagues in the Adelaide region. It appears Legacy will keep their own branding, name and identity at this stage, though they could take on the name and colours of the Adelaide Crows in the future.